Langan Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Langan Family History

Langan Family History

The family history of the ancient name Langan was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Langan include Lange, Long and Lanigan. This name means 'the long', taken from the stature of the original bearer. This name is of Anglo-Norman descent spreading to Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in these countries. Examples of such are a Henry le Longe, of Buckinghamshire, who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', England, in the year 1273. A Johannes Longus witnessed a grant to the Hospital of Soltre, Scotland, in 1180-1214. In Ireland the family of le Long arrived after the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1172, and most of this name belong to one of several Gaelic Irish septs of O'Longain. One of these septs was known as the O'Longs of Cannaway, and they held lands from the sea of Cork. Although losing their lands in the seventeenth century they are still prominent in Cork and in County Mayo.The Langan family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Langan descendants.